A different Sino-Indian War

With the Sino-Indian War in 1962, India really lost control of Aksai Chin, an area in Kashmir, that it still claims is effectively theirs. But for me, this isn't the interesting part. More intriguing, is that Pakistan had propositioned a joint defence with India, against "northern" enemies, which India refused. What if they had accepted? Perhaps the circumstances of the war would have continued on, but after Pakistan and China's relations greatly improved, and their own border dispute was resolved. What if India and Pakistan stayed united against China? What would the long-term effects of such an action truly be?
 
Temporary, but doubt it survives Nehru's death. Neither Shastri nor Indira have the politico-moral authority to sustain it. After all, negotiations with Abdullah and Ayub Khan were on the table when Nehru died IOTL.
 
Temporary, but doubt it survives Nehru's death. Neither Shastri nor Indira have the politico-moral authority to sustain it. After all, negotiations with Abdullah and Ayub Khan were on the table when Nehru died IOTL.
But we're not talking about a real union: rather a defense one, in which the original plan for India and Pakistan actually happens: They become friendlier towards each other, and are like Sister-Countries. This would no doubt alter the geopolitics of the subcontinent.
 
But we're not talking about a real union: rather a defense one, in which the original plan for India and Pakistan actually happens: They become friendlier towards each other, and are like Sister-Countries. This would no doubt alter the geopolitics of the subcontinent.

Pakistan needs India as its Israel, so to speak. When a major chunk of the country's raison d'etre includes that premise... plus the Soviets won't be happy with India drifting towards pro-Western Pakistan.
 
Yeah without the Indian bogeyman the power, prestige and most importantly cash of the ISA and Army would be under threat. It may not be in Pakistan's interest to keep tensions high but it's been in the interest if it's leaders for a long while.
 
Pakistan needs India as its Israel, so to speak. When a major chunk of the country's raison d'etre includes that premise... plus the Soviets won't be happy with India drifting towards pro-Western Pakistan.

Yeah without the Indian bogeyman the power, prestige and most importantly cash of the ISA and Army would be under threat. It may not be in Pakistan's interest to keep tensions high but it's been in the interest if it's leaders for a long while.
But that's not the question I'm asking. This entire deal was in fact proposed by Pakistan. So what would the consequences be if India accepts it? By this time, there were no doubts as to Pakistan's sovereignty, and it really doesn't need India as an enemy. In fact, people thought that they would be allies, until partition actually happened.
 
But that's not the question I'm asking. This entire deal was in fact proposed by Pakistan. So what would the consequences be if India accepts it? By this time, there were no doubts as to Pakistan's sovereignty, and it really doesn't need India as an enemy. In fact, people thought that they would be allies, until partition actually happened.

You see detente for the next little while, but not flowers and roses. I don't see Indian or Pakistani politics diverging significantly from OTL, at least not in the first few years.
 
Top